Workplace Pensions (Auto Enrolment)

All companies offer a pension scheme to their employees. There are numerous different types available and usually the company will put some money into your pension if you decide to join.

It is important that you take into account your existing pension provision or that from your previous employer before making any decisions.
We will be able to explain the features of your company’s arrangements, and may be able to assist you to select the right investment funds for your own needs.

Auto Enrolment
People are living longer lives. This means people can enjoy more time in retirement and need to plan and save for their later years. The government estimates that around seven million people are not saving enough to meet their retirement aspirations and has put changes in place, which commenced from October 2012, affecting both employers and employees.

What do the changes mean for employers?
Since 2012, employers have been required to automatically enrol all ‘eligible jobholders’ into either the National Employers Savings Trust (NEST) or an alternatively another form of scheme, such as a Group Stakeholder Scheme, Group Personal Pension Scheme or an Occupational Pension Scheme which is deemed as a ‘qualifying’ or a ‘certified’ workplace pension. Both employers and employees have to make minimum contributions into the scheme, though employees are allowed to opt out. The process was staged, dependent on employee head count, from 1st October 2012 to 1st February 2018, with large employers being the first to have to take action.

Who needs to be automatically enrolled?
All jobholders working in Great Britain aged at least 22 years old who have not yet reached State Pension age and are earning more than £10,000 a year (threshold subject to periodic review) will need to be automatically enrolled into either an employer’s workplace pension or NEST.

What is the minimum contribution employers must pay?
Under NEST (or an alternative ‘qualifying scheme’), employers will need to contribute 1%-3% (phased) on a band of earnings for eligible jobholders – between £6,032 and £46,350 (2018/2019). This is supplemented by the jobholder’s own 1%-4% (phased) contribution and up to 1% in the form of income tax relief. From April 2019, overall contributions and tax relief will total at least 8% for this type of scheme.

Who can opt in?
Jobholders aged between 16 and 22, and between State Pension age and 75 who are earning more than the lower earnings figure, are able to opt in to their employer’s workplace pension and will qualify for the compulsory minimum employer contributions. Those earning below the above figure may opt in to their employer’s workplace pension but their employer is not required to make a contribution, but may do so if they wish. Individuals may opt out of automatic enrolment should they choose, but employers will be required to auto-enrol those individuals again, 3 years later.

Which scheme can employers use?
Employers will be able to choose the pension scheme(s) they want to use provided the scheme(s) meet certain quality criteria (including any current scheme). These may be based on contributions or benefits people receive.

There is in addition a ‘certification’ process whereby Employers can register an existing scheme ‘as good as’ or ‘better than NEST’ with any of the following being ‘acceptable’.

A minimum 7% contribution of earnings (3% employer contribution), provided that the total pay bill is pensionable

Final Salary Schemes (existing):

In order to qualify, an existing final salary scheme will need to have a contracting out certificate in force as this is taken as evidence that the scheme already meets the ‘reference scheme test’ standard. This test requires schemes to commence a pension at age 65, payable for life and must be:

a) 1/120th of average qualifying earnings in the last 3 tax years, preceding the end of pensionable service, multiplied by
b) The number of years of pensionable service up to a maximum of 40.

Pensions are a long term investment. You may get back less than you put in. Pensions can be and are subject to tax and regulatory change; therefore the tax treatment of pension benefits can and may change in the future.

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Excaliber Associates is entered on the Financial Services Register https://register.fca.org.uk under reference 476748.

The guidance and or advice contained within this website is subject to the UK regulatory regime and is therefore primarily targeted to customers in the UK.

If you wish to register a complaint, please write to admin@excaliber-ifa.co.uk or telephone 01752 340183 A summary of our internal complaints handling procedures for the reasonable and prompt handling of complaints is available on request and if you cannot settle your complaint with us, you may be entitled to refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service at https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk or by contacting them on 0800 0234 567.

Estate planning and the provision of Wills are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. On behalf of APS Legal & Associates Ltd, Head office: Worksop Turbine Innovation Centre, Shireoaks Triangle Business Park, Coach Close, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, S81 8AP. APS Legal & Associates is a member of the Institute of Professional Willwriters. APS Legal & Associates complies with the Trading Standards Institute Approved IPW Code of Practice